Sectional boilers



ug. 28, 1962 A. J. DoNoHUE SECTIONAL BOILERS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed July 20, 1956 llf Aug. 28, 1962 A. J. DoNoHUE SECTIONAL BOILERS Original Filed July 20, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 urz;

1v To Anf/{azzfyJNN 26e BY @ff "7 ATTORNEY Aug. 28, 1962 A. J. DoNoHUE SECTIONAL BOILERS Original Filed July 20, 1956 3 Sheets-Shea?I 3 BY 6` ATTORNEY t tn 3,05l,l45 Patented Aug. 28, 1962 ffice 3,051,145 SECTIONAL BOILERS Anthony J. Donohue, Paoli, Pa.

(50 E. Wynnewood Road, Wynnewood, Pa.) Continuation of application Ser. No. 599,040, July 20, 1956. This application Apr. 17, 1959, Ser. No. 807,181

2 Claims. (Cl. 122-225) This invention relates to sectional boilers for steam and hot water heating which are also suitable for supplying hot water for domestic consumption, and more particularly to such boilers capable of preassembly at the place of manufacture.

It has heretofore been the almost universal practice, with cast iron sectional heating boilers, to employ tapered sleeves, commonly referred to as push nipples, for the purpose of connecting the individual sections into an integral unit, and with such push nipples disposed both at the bottom and at the top of the heating sections. Heavy duty reaming machines capable of machining two or three tapered holes in each side of a boiler section simultaneously have been required to insure accuracy. At the same time the center distances or locations of the reamed holes used in such boiler sections must always be interchangeably machined 4to permit of replacement. Accuracy in manufacture of the push nipples is also required. A cast iron boiler manufacturer is often called upon to supply replacement sections for boilers made 25 years before. The carrying of replacement parts held to close tolerances over such long periods of time is commercially undesirable and is not found in other comparable industries.

Such prior boiler constructions, as heretofore referred to, may be desirable where a heating contractor is called upon to assemble the boiler sections on the job but the cost of doing this work is now relatively high. Steel boilers, which do not require precision machining and which are replaced in their entirety upon failure have an apparent cost advantage which can be, and is, overcome by the construction herein disclosed.

The upper push nipples, as heretofore employed in the upper part of the boiler, and for internal circulation, also take up space which reduces the space available for ilues for the gases of combustion.

lt is the principal object of the present invention to provide an improved type of boiler construction whereby the boiler sections can be assembled at the factory on an assembly line and without the necessity of precision machining and assembly of a character inherent with constructions requiring accurate center positioning.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a boiler assembly so constructed and arranged that each individual section can expand freely in any direction under heating stress so that cracked sections due to misaligned and faulty nipple assembly will be eliminated.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a boiler assembly of the character aforesaid which is particularly suited for the use therewith of submerged coils for heating domestic hot water.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a boiler assembly which is free from the obstructions at the top thereof attendant upon the use of internal circulation connections.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a boiler assembly having a head so constructed that it serves as the top connecting means for the boiler sections while simultaneously being capable of serving as a mounting means for the submerged domestic water heating coils.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved boiler assembly having a head construction which serves as the top connecting structure for the boiler sections and which will permit of free circulation of Wate between the sections.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a boiler construction having a head connecting a plurality of boiler sections and which head is also capable of serving as a mounting for a plurality of interconnected domestic water heating coils.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a boiler construction having sections in which a minimum number of positively aligned parts are required so as to reduce the accuracy required in machining.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a boiler construction having a plurality of boiler sections with a head in engagement therewith and in which the connection between the head and the sections accommodates irregularities in the dimensioning and finishing thereof.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide 'an improved boiler construction for heating which in one size thereof has only two sections and one vertical ueway but with which a sufficiently high rating can be obtained to furnish adequate domestic hot water, so that the cost of manufacture of the same can be reduced.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a boiler construction having a plurality of boiler sections with an upper connecting head therebetween, the connecting head containing only a limited amount of boiler water therein, the connecting head also having the inlet and delivery connectionsof a tankless water heating coil coinecte'd therethrough and serving to support the heating co1 It is a further object of the present invention to provide a boiler construction having Vthe advantageous characteristics as aforesaid while eiecting a reduction in both the size and -the weight from boilers now available.

Other obj'ects and advantageous features of the invention will be apparent from the description and claims.

The nature and characteristic features of the invention will be more readily understood from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part thereof, in which:

FIGURE l is a vertical central sectional view of a sectional boiler in accordance with the invention, taken approximately on the line 1 1 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the sectional boiler shown in FIG. l on a larger scale, the collecting hood being removed;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional View taken approximately on the line 3 3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken approximately on the line 4 4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional View taken approximately on the line 5 5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a fragment-ary vertical sectional view .taken approximately on the line 6 6 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary side elevational View as seen from the left of FIG. 2 with the connecting head removed; and

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken approximately on the line 8 8 of FIG. 2 and showing the arrangement of the domestic water heating coils in a Steam boiler made in accordance With the invention.

It should, of course, be understood that the description and drawings herein are illustrative merely, and that various modifications and changes can be made in the structure disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views.

The sectional boiler in accordance with the present invention includes a plurality of cast iron sections, with a lower interiorly disposed combustion space or chamber, supplied with fuel for combustion therein, and with a vertical flue extending upwardly from said combustion chamber between adjoining sections for heat exchange and discharge of products of combustion.

The boiler sections are connected and held together at their lower portions, land at the top have inclined plane surfaces for receiving corresponding inclined plane surfaces of a connecting head, a compressible gasket being interposed between the plane surfaces for preventing iiuid leakage.

The head has an interior space for circulation between the connected boiler sections, and preferably also serves for the support of submerged domestic water heating coils interconnected through the connecting head space and extending into the boiler sections.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, a pair of aligned and meeting boiler sections 12 and 13 of a cast iron sectional boiler are shown which may constitute the front boiler section and the rear boiler section. The boiler sections 12 and 13 are connected at the top thereof, as hereinafter explained, by a connecting head 14.

The front section 12 is provided with a substantially straight vertical front wall 15, vertical side walls 16 and 17 extending rearwardly therefrom, a horizontal bottom wall 18, extending rearwardly from the front Wall 15 and connected to the side walls 16 and 17, and a horizontal top wall 19 extending rearwardly from the front wall 15 and between said side walls 16 and 17. The side wall 17 has an upper inwardly inclined portion 17' extending to the top wall 19.

Between the top wall 19 and the side wall 15, at one side of the boiler section 12, an inclined face is provided (see FIG. 7) which has an opening 20 therethrough communicating with the water space in the boiler section 12 and which is surrounded by a rim 21. The face of the rim 21 is ground or otherwise nished to provide a fluid tight joint at this location, as hereinafter explained, but does not require finishing to a close tolerance.

A bottom interior wall 18 has extending upwardly therefrom an interior wall 22 which is in spaced parallel relation to the front wall 15, with an upper wall portion 23, intermediate the side walls 16 and 17, in a more closely spaced relation to the front wall 11 than the front to back dimensions of the side walls 16 and 17. The wall portion 23 has a plurality of spaced projections 24 extending therefrom to provide extended heat exchanging surfaces.

The side walls 16 and 17 and upper inwardly inclined portion 17', and the wall 23, provide boundaries of a vertical -llue passageway 2S into which the projections 24 extend.

The front section 12 also has interiorly disposed, and below, and in communication with the flue passageway 25, the front part of a combustion chamber 26.

The lower part of the flue passageway or the transition portion between the combustion chamber 26 and the flue passageway is preferably constructed as shown in my copending application filed August 13, 1956, Serial No. 603,545, now Patent No. 2,934,046.

.A burner opening 27 extending through the front wall 15 and into communication with the combustion chamber 26 can be provided for the Iinsertion of a burner tube 2S for supplying gas or liquid fuel, and air for supporting combustion.

At the lower part of the rear wall 22 (see FIGS'. 4 and and preferably contiguous to the side wall 16, but outside the combustion chamber 26, a nipple opening 29 is provided, for purposes to be explained.

The rear section 13 is substantially similar in construction to the front section 10, although of opposite hand, with a vertical rear wall 15a, vertical side walls 16a and 17a, upper inclined side wall portion 17a', disposed in meeting relation to the side Walls 16 and 17 and wall portion 17 in the assembled condition of the sections 12 and 13, a horizontal bottom wall 18a, a top wall 19a, an inclined face between the top wall 19a and the side wall 17a with an opening 20a therethrough surrounded by a rim 21a. The face of the rim 21a preferably is tinished in the same manner as' the corresponding surface of the rim 21.

A downwardly extending wall V22a is provided in spaced parallel relation to the wall 22 with an upper wall portion 23a similar to the wall portion 23, and with spaced projections 24a extending therefrom and in registered relation to the projections 24 in assembled condition of the sections 12 and 13.

The side walls 16a and 17a and upwardly inclined portion 17a', and the wall 23a provide with the boundaries previously described, the remaining boundaries of the vertical flue passageway 25.

The rear section 13 also has interiorly disposed therein, and below the flue passageway 25, the rear part of the combustion chamber 26. The combustion chamber 26 can be lined with refractory material, if desired, when the boiler is oil fired.

At the lower part of the wall 22a, and preferably contiguous to the side wall 16a, but outside the combustion chamber 26, a nipple opening 29 is provided, aligned in assembled condition of the sections 12 and 13 with the opening 29 in the section 12 for the reception of a push nipple 30 for circulation of water between the lower parts of the sections 1-2 and 13.

It will be noted that the nipple 30 is provided at the bottom and only at the bottom of the boiler sections 12 and 13.

The rims 21 and 21a have, in engagement therewith, sealing gaskets 31 of rubber, natural or synthetic, or of any desired compressible packing material.

The head 14 is closed at its front and rear ends and has a horizontal top wall portion 32, and downwardly extending outer side wall portions 33, with rim portions 35, complemental to the rim portions 21 and 21a, all the rim portions 35 having inclined faces tinished in the same manner as t-he faces of the rims 21 and 21a, for engagement with the gaskets 31, and with openings 36 aligned with the openings 20 and 20a. Between the rims 35 a central connecting wall 37 is provided.

The head 14 is adapted to be held in position on the boiler sections 12 and 13, and with the rim portions 35 in compressing relation to the gaskets 31 to provide fluid tight joints around the openings 20 and 20a and the openings 36 between the 'head 14 and the sections 12 and 13, by a plurality of studs 38 which extend through the rim portions 35 and into threaded engagement in the rim portions 21 and 21a.

The head 14 is preferably utilized as the supporting mounting for an immersion type domestic hot water heating coil or coils of the type referred to as a tankless heater.

For this purpose the wall 33 is provided with an inlet fitting 39 having an interior shoulder 40 engaging a gasket 40 and an exteriorly disposed threaded portion 41 with a tightening nut 42 thereon, and with a similar outlet fitting 43 having an interior shoulder 44, engaging a gasket 44', `an exteriorly disposed threaded portion 45 with a tightening nut 46 thereon. The inlet fitting is connected by a pipe 39a to a substantially horizontally disposed domestic water heating coil 47, which extends into the boiler section 12 through the opening 20 and the aligned opening 36, with a return connection 47a extending -f-rom the inner end of the coil 47 to a crossover tube section 48. The only connection required for the dual coil assembly shown, between the individual coil units, is provided at 48 in the crossover section 48. The tube section 48 extends between the sections 12 and 13 within the interior of the head 14 and to a connection 49a to the inner end of a water heating coil 49 which extends into the boiler section 13 through the opening 20a and one of the openings 36. The other end of the coil 49 i-s connected by a pipe 43a to the outlet tting 43.

Referring now more particularly to FIG. 8, a modified form of heating coil con-struction is shown carried by the head 14 and with downward integral extensions, the extension 39a being shown, for locating the heating coils 47 and 49 -below the water line of the boiler where the boiler is used `as a steam boiler.

The front wall 15 is preferably provided with a threaded opening 50, near the cold Water inlet portion of the coil 47 for the insertion of a water temperature responsive or sensing instrument T. The location of the instrument T is such that it has a quick response to the reduced temperature of a limited portion of boiler water caused by cold water entering the coil 47.

One of the boiler sections, such as the boiler section 13, can be provided with a threaded opening 51 for the connection of a pipe for delivery of hot water or steam to the heating system, and one of the boiler sections such as the lboiler section 13 can be provided with a threaded retu-rn connection opening 52 aligned with the openings 29 Vand the push nipple 30 for return of water to the boiler for heating therein.

The structure for discharge of the gases from the ue l 4space 25 is shown as a collecting hood 62 carried on the .top wall 19 and with a discharge ange 63 for the attachment of a pipe (not shown) leading to the stack.

The mode of operation will now be explained.

The combustion of the fuel in the combustion chamber 26 is utilized to provide heat for absorption by the surfaces of the sections 12 and 13 surrounding the combustion chamber 26, and upon the passage of the gases of cornbustion through the flue passageway 25 in contact with the walls surrounding the flue passageway 25 and the projections 24 and 24a extending thereinto. The gases at the top of the yflue passageway 25 are collected by the collecting hood 62 for discharge.

Circulation -between the boiler sections 12 and 13 is effective through the push nipple 30 at the bottom of these sections and through the interior of the head 14 at the top.

Water delivered to the lower part of the boiler at the return or inlet opening 52 has its temperature increased as it moves upwardly and the hot water or steam for delivery to the house heating system is delivered through the opening 51.

While the boiler is available for supplying heated fluid for the heating system, the coils 47 and 49 are also utilized for heating domestic hot water.

When a demand occurs for domestic hot water, cold water enters at the inlet tting 39 and upon movement through the coils 47 and 49 to the outlet tting 43 is heated by the boiler water. The total quantity of boiler Water available for heating the domestic hot water, particularly in small boilers is limited so that the burner must be turned on quickly at the start of most draws. However, a time interval or delay is desirable to prevent repeated burner turn on for momentary draws. It has been ascertained that this time interval should not exceed about thirty seconds. For normal draws of several minutes duration the burner should turn on after about thirty seconds to maintain the domestic water temperature. Effective burner turn on is achieved with this lag by inserting the sensitive portion of the instrument T in close proximity to the inlet portion of the coil 47. At this location the chilling effect of the incoming water in the coil 47 is effective on the water at the instrument T which is quickly chilled by the incoming domestic water irrespective of the average temperature of the Water in the boiler. This sudden drop in ambient temperature overcomes creep in the boiler water temperature above the control setting plus the differential of control and brings the burner into action within the desired interval.

This application is a continuation of my prior application, Serial No. 599,040, filed July 20, 1956, for Sectional Boilers, now abandoned.

I claim:

1. A sectional boiler comprising a plurality of separate vertical boiler sections each with enclosing walls, said enclosing walls of each of said sections including top wall portions on each of said sections and aligned vertical outer side wall portions on each of said sections, said sections eing disposed in facing relation, said sections having therebetween at the lower part thereof a combustion space, a luid connection at the lower part of said sections connecting said sections for fluid circulation between the lower interior portions thereof, the upper parts of each of said sections having inclined plane terminal face portions extending downwardly from said top wall portions and terminating at corresponding outer side wall portions, said tace portions having openings therethrough, ueway bounding connecting walls o-n each section between the face portions of said sections, and a connecting head in bridging relation to said sections having on one side thereof openings surrounded by plane face portions in juxtaposed abutting relation to said first mentioned plane face portions, said head connecting the interior portions of said sections for fluid circulation between the upper interior portions of said sections, said boiler having a vertical ueway extending upwardly from said combustion space, said ueway being bounded at one end by said connecting walls, said connecting head having a domestic hot water heating member carried thereby, said heating member including inlet and outlet connections extending through a wall portion ot said connecting head, and said heating member including a coil extending through said openings and into at least one of said vertical boiler sections.

2. A sectional boiler comprising a plurality of separate vertical boiler sections each with enclosing walls, said enclosing walls of each of said sections including top wall portions on each of said sections and aligned vertical outer side wall portions on each of said sections, said sections being disposed in facing relation, said sections having therebetween at the lower part thereof a combustion space, a luid connection at the lower part of said sections connecting said sections for liuid circulation between the lower interior portions thereof, the upper parts of each of said sections having inclined plane terminal face portions extending downwardly from said top wall portions and terminating at corresponding outer side wail portions, said face portions having openings therethrough, ueway bounding connecting walls on each section between the face portions of said sections, and a connecting head in bridging relation to said sections having on one side thereof openings surrounded by plane face portions in juxtaposed abutting relation to said first mentioned plane face portions, said head connecting the interior portions of said sections for fluid circulation between the upper interior portions of said sections, said boiler having a vertical lueway extending upwardly from said combustion space, said flueway being bounded at one end by said connecting walls, said connecting head having a domestic hot water heating member carried thereby, said heating member including inlet and outlet connections extending throngh a wall portion of said connecting head, and said heating member including a plurality of water carrying coils extendin-g through said openings and into said sections, said coils having communicating ter minal connections connected respectively with said inlet and outlet connections, and a iluid connection between other terminal ends of said coils disposed within said connecting head.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 641,468 Rathbone Jan. 16, 1900 663,025 Henderson Dec. 4, 1900 1,771,874 Cliff July 29, 1930 1,851,453 Silver Mar. 29, 1932 2,034,782 Thomas Mar. 24, 1936 2,251,589 Hannum et al. Aug. 5, 1941 2,270,440 Hunter et al, Jan. 20, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS 26,838 Switzerland Aug. 9, 1902 

